Striker Cho Gue-sung (28, FC Midtjylland) scored a decisive header against an English Premier League side.
Danish club FC Midtjylland secured a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the first leg of the 2025-2026 UEFA Europa League Round of 16 at The City Ground in Nottingham, England on March 13 (Korea time), thanks to Cho’s header in the 80th minute.
Midtjylland finished third among 36 teams in the league phase with 19 points (6 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss), reaching the Round of 16 in a European club competition for the first time in the club’s history. With this victory, they now hold a significant advantage heading into the quarterfinals. A draw in the second leg at home on March 20 will be enough to secure their spot in the last eight.
Nottingham Forest currently sits in 17th place in the EPL this season, just above the relegation zone (18th-20th).
Cho started on the bench and entered the match in the 57th minute. Lee Han-beom also came on in the 59th minute. In the 80th minute, Cho connected with a cross from Ousmane Diao, who had exchanged passes with Lee on the right side of the opponent’s midfield, heading the ball into the right corner of the net while battling a defender in the center of the penalty area.
This marks Cho’s first goal in official competition in 2026. He last scored in the league phase matchday 6 away game against Genk (Belgium) on December 12 last year, when his winning goal led Midtjylland to a 1-0 victory for his first Europa League goal. With this strike, his season tally rises to seven goals—three in the Danish Superliga, two in the Danish Cup, and two in the Europa League.